Optical Control of TRPM8 Channels with Photoswitchable Menthol.

Transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) channels are well known as sensors for cold temperatures and cooling agents such as menthol and icilin and these channels are tightly regulated by the membrane lipid phosphoinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP). Since TRPM8 channels emerged as promising drug targets for treating pain, itching, obesity, cancer, dry eye disease, and inflammation, we aimed at developing a high-precision TRPM8 channel activator, to achieve spatiotemporal control of TRPM8 activity with light. In this study, we designed, synthesized and characterized the first photoswitchable TRPM8 activator azo-menthol (AzoM).

Unravelling the Information Contained in the Single Items of the COPD Assessment Test for Different Outcomes and Smoking Status in Patients with COPD: Results from COSYCONET.

Background: The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) comprises eight questions. We evaluated the information that each of the questions and the total score contributed to outcomes and characteristics of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), including their dependence on smoking status.

Methods: Patients with COPD of the COSYCONET cohort with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grades 1-4 and the former grade 0 were included.

Association of Patients' Knowledge on the Disease and Its Management with Indicators of Disease Severity and Individual Characteristics in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Results from COSYCONET 2.

Background: In patients with chronic diseases, including those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), knowledge on the disease and its self-management is considered as relevant for improving disease control and long-term outcome. We studied to which extent components of knowledge depended on potential predictors, such as participation in educational programs and disease severity. For example, the perception of exacerbations or GOLD grade might modulate the content and reliability of COPD understanding.

European Respiratory Society Research Seminar on Preventing Pediatric Asthma.

This report is a summary of the presentations given at the European Respiratory Society's Research Seminar on Asthma Prevention. The seminar reviewed both epidemiological and mechanistic studies and concluded that; (i) reducing exposure of pregnant women and children to air pollution will reduce incident asthma, (ii) there are promising data that both fish oil and a component of raw cow's milk prevent asthma, and (iii) modulating trained immunity by either mimicking helminth infection or oral and sublingual bacterial products is a promising area of research.

Skin Markers of Premature Ageing in Patients with COPD: Results Form COSYCONET.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is commonly associated with ageing, with the prevalence and severity increasing by age. Smoking-induced premature ageing is thought to contribute to COPD, particularly lung emphysema. This study aimed to explore the relationship between lung function impairment and skin texture, as a marker of biological or premature ageing, in COPD patients.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Elucidate the Molecular Organization of Poly(beta-amino ester) Based Polyplexes for siRNA Delivery.

Cationic polymers are known to efficiently deliver nucleic acids to target cells by encapsulating the cargo into nanoparticles. However, the molecular organization of these nanoparticles is often not fully explored. Yet, this information is crucial to understand complex particle systems and the role influencing factors play at later stages of drug development.

Novel immunotherapeutic approaches in lung cancer: driving beyond programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated Protein-4.

Purpose Of Review: In this review, our aim is to highlight the latest novel immunotherapeutic approaches for advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) beyond anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and anti- cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated Protein-4 (CTLA4).

Recent Findings: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) revolutionized the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Despite that, patients develop primary or acquired resistance to ICIs.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized for infection with Influenza A, SARS-CoV-2 or respiratory syncytial virus in the season 2023/2024 in a large German primary care centre.

Background: In addition to the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 infections, those with Influenza A/B and RSV have reappeared in 2022/23. To compare the development of prevalence, clinical outcomes and risk factors, we analysed data of the season 2023/24 from the same region/hospital as for 2022/23.

Methods: Patients covering the whole age range with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A/B, RSV were included from the internal, neurological and paediatric units of the RoMed hospital Rosenheim, Germany/Bavaria, from August 1st 2023 to 29th February 2024.

Socioeconomic status, smoking, and lung cancer: mediation and bias analysis in the SYNERGY study.

Background: Increased lung-cancer risks for low socioeconomic status (SES) groups are only partially attributable to smoking habits. Little effort has been made to investigate the persistent risks related to low SES by quantification of potential biases.

Methods: Based on 12 case-control studies, including 18 centers of the international SYNERGY project (16,550 cases, 20,147 controls), we estimated controlled direct effects (CDE) of SES on lung cancer via multiple logistic regression, adjusted for age, study center, and smoking habits, and stratified by sex.

Subclinical impairment of the left atrium is associated with MRI-based lung volume but not with parameters from pulmonary function testing.

Left atrial (LA) physiology and hemodynamics are intimately connected to cardiac and lung function in health and disease. This study examined the relationship between MRI-based left atrial (LA) size and function with MRI-based lung volume and pulmonary function testing (PFT) parameters in the population-based KORA study cohort of 400 participants without overt cardiovascular disease. MRI quantification assessed LA size/function in sequences with and without ECG synchronization, alongside lung volume.

Tumor board simulation improves interdisciplinary decision-making in medical students.

Introduction: Training of interdisciplinary clinical reasoning and decision-making skills, essential in daily clinical practice in oncological specialties, are still underrepresented in medical education. Therefore, at LMU University Hospital Munich, we implemented a didactically modified tumor board simulation with experts from five different disciplines (medical oncology, pathology, radiation oncology, radiology, and surgery) presenting patient cases into a one-week course on the basic principles of oncology. In this survey, we examined the self-assessed impact of our course on the interdisciplinary decision-making skills of medical students.

GOLD-Grade Specific Disease Characterization and Phenotyping of COPD Using Quantitative Computed Tomography in the Nationwide COSYCONET Multicenter Trial in Germany.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to apply quantitative computed tomography (QCT) for GOLD-grade specific disease characterization and phenotyping of air-trapping, emphysema, and airway abnormalities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from a nationwide cohort study.

Methods: As part of the COSYCONET multicenter study, standardized CT in ex- and inspiration, lung function assessment (FEV1/FVC), and clinical scores (BODE index) were prospectively acquired in 525 patients (192 women, 327 men, aged 65.7 ± 8.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and childhood asthma: a European collaborative analysis.

Objectives: To investigate the associations of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour in early childhood with asthma and reduced lung function in later childhood within a large collaborative study.

Design: Pooling of longitudinal data from collaborating birth cohorts using meta-analysis of separate cohort-specific estimates and analysis of individual participant data of all cohorts combined.

Setting: Children aged 0-18 years from 26 European birth cohorts.

Oxysterole-binding protein targeted by SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins regulates coronavirus replication.

Introduction: Oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP) is known for its crucial role in lipid transport, facilitating cholesterol exchange between the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum membranes. Despite its established function in cellular processes, its involvement in coronavirus replication remains unclear.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the role of OSBP in coronavirus replication and explored the potential of a novel OSBP-binding compound, ZJ-1, as an antiviral agent against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

Midregional Proatrial Natriuretic Peptide (MRproANP) is associated with vertebral fractures and low bone density in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Background: Patients with COPD are often affected by loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporotic fractures. Natriuretic peptides (NP) are known as cardiac markers, but have also been linked to fragility-associated fractures in the elderly. As their functions include regulation of fluid and mineral balance, they also might affect bone metabolism, particularly in systemic disorders such as COPD.

Peptidyl-prolyl isomerase F as a prognostic biomarker associated with immune infiltrates and mitophagy in lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is among the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, with unfavorable treatment outcomes. Peptidyl-prolyl isomerase F () is known to influence the malignancy traits of tumor progression by modulating the bioenergetics and mitochondrial permeability in cancer cells; however, its role in LUAD remains unclear. Our study seeks to investigate the clinical significance, tumor proliferation, and immune regulatory functions of in LUAD.

The impact of years of training and possible technical, procedural, and individual risk factors for the development of atopic symptoms among bakery and confectionery trainees.

Purpose: Occupational asthma is commonly observed in bakers and confectioners. Endogenous and exogenous risk factors contribute to bakers' asthma. A heightened awareness of this and early diagnosis can be helpful in terms of prevention.

Urinary eosinophil-derived neurotoxin is associated with reduced lung function in pediatric asthma.

Introduction: Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) is a biomarker for eosinophilic activation. Urinary (u) EDN may allow non-invasive monitoring of asthma, but clinical recommendations are lacking. We assessed the potential of uEDN as a marker of disease activity in pediatric asthma.